Music and Art as Historical Record

The craft of writing was a minor art in Ethiopia. The art of dance and paintings are well known in Ethiopian history. 

Ethiopians entertain with singing and instruments such as the single-stringed masinko. The masinko is one of the most popular traditional musical instruments used throughout Ethiopia {musicinafrica.net}. 

                                       


Three aspects that led to artist expression in Ethiopia are: The spirit of the Ethiopian people who succeeded to preserve their independence for the last two thousand years, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the African soil on which the culture of the Ethiopian people has grown and flourished Thanks to these historical facts, the Ethiopians were able to develop freely their culture and artistic aptitudes {Teologiczne}. 

                                                Photo Credit: infoplease.com












References

{1} Feb 08, 2016 • by In-house Kenya • • Creative Commons Licence, Fitzum GATCHEW. "Traditional Music in Ethiopia." Music In Africa. N.p., 08 Feb. 2016. Web. 27 Jan. 2017. <http://musicinafrica.net/traditional-music-ethiopia>.

{2} Mekonnen, Danny A. "ETHIO-GROOVE ON THE WORLD STAGE Music, Mobility, Mediation." Callaloo33.1 (2010): 299-313. Web.

{3} LEVINE, DONALD N. "Reconfiguring the Ethiopian Nation in a Global Era." International Journal of Ethiopian Studies 1.2 (2004): 1-15. Web.

{4} JONES, ADAM. "THE DARK CONTINENT: A Preminary Study of the Geographical Coverage in European Sources, 1400-1880." Paideuma 33 (1987): 19-26. Web.

{5} Teologiczne, Warszawskie Studia. "ETHIOPIAN RELIGIOUS ART." Stanisław C HOJNACKI(n.d.): n. pag. Web. 27 Jan. 2017. <ETHIOPIAN RELIGIOUS ART>.

Geography of Ethiopia

Studying Ethiopia's geographical traits, you will see a stark difference between the dry Danakil Desert and the Bale Mountains.

Ethiopia lies completely within the Tropical Latitudes. The Capital city Addis Ababa which means "New Flower", is located almost directly in the center of the country. Ethiopia is one of the most populated countries in Africa, bearing a weighty 70 million people. 

                                          
                                              {Photo Credit: thinklink.com}

{Photo Credit: infoplease.com}

The country is almost divided in half by the Great Rift Valley.
Ethiopia is located in what is called the horn of Africa; a region of Eastern Africa. Ethiopia is land-locked by Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan, and Kenya.

                                                    {Picture Credit: infoplease.com}

The 437,600 square mile country is made up of plateaus, mountainous cliffs (escarpments), gorges, ravines, rift valleys, and spectacular landscapes including waterfalls.

                                   {Photo Credit: ethiopianholidays.com}

                                          {Photo Credit: www.telegraph.co.uk}


Ethiopia is the source of the Blue Nile which supplies four-fifths of the Nile River. The Nile is the primary livelihood for more than 90 million people from Sudan to Egypt.

                                {Blue Nile Falls. Photo Credit: nationalturk.com}

The people of Ethiopia have been influenced greatly by people who have come through history. There have many attempts to overrule the country, but Ethiopia has enjoyed their long-sustained independence and old Christian Traditions.



Reference:

"Geography & Wildlife." Our Africa. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2017. <http://www.our-africa.org/ethiopia/geography-wildlife>.

BEKERIE, AYELE. "Ethiopica: Some Historical Reflections on the Origin of the Word Ethiopia."International Journal of Ethiopian Studies 1.2 (2004): 110-21. Web.Henze, Paul B. "Ethiopia." The Wilson Quarterly (1976-) 8.5 (1984): 98-124. Web.